IAS Exam Final Questions & Answers
2024/2025
What are two sources of law in the American legal system? - ANSWERSenacted law and case law
discuss the purposes behind stare decisis - ANSWERS-it is the controlling doctrine governing judges'
ability to make law
-courts must follow precedent
-stare decisis promotes stability, reliability, predictability, consistency, and fairness in the application of
law
what are the three levels of courts that exist in the hierarchy of the federal court system? - ANSWERSU.S.
District Court (trial court)
Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate court)
U.S. Supreme Court
what are the three levels of courts that exist in the hierarchy of most state court system? - ANSWERStrial
court
intermediate court of appeals
state supreme court
how do courts determine what law binds them? - ANSWERSgeographically
subject matter
courts are bound by authority in the line of appeal
why must a lawyer consider a court's jurisdiction? - ANSWERSlawyers must be able to determine
whether a court can hear the case and whether the law is binding
, can a court amend or change language in a statute? why or why not? - ANSWERSno, this power is
reserved to the legislature
some courts do have the authority to declare statutes unconstitutional
explain three ways courts make law - ANSWERSadopting or creating a new legal doctrine
deciding cases that interpret existing legal doctrines
interpreting ambiguous or vague language in enacted law
A legislator has proposed a bill that prohibits physician-assisted suicide. If enacted into law, can a court
amend its language? - ANSWERSNo, the court cannot amend the language of a statute
Legislator introduces bill, bill is referred to committee, committee reviews, hearings & testimony,
committee report, full chamber reviews, debates, and votes on committee's version of the bill, sent to
president, if signed within 10 days, becomes law
if vetoed, goes back to legislature/overridden by 2/3 vote in each chamber
New Mexico Trial Court: What of the following cases are binding on that court? - ANSWERSDecisions
from the Last Court of Resort in Texas: Persuasive
Decisions from the Court of Law in New Mexico: Binding
Decisions from the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in New Mexico: Persuasive
Identify whether the following sources of law are considered primary or secondary authority. -
ANSWERSStatute: Primary
Case: Primary
Legal Newspaper Article: Secondary
Legal Encyclopedia: Secondary
North Dakota Trial Court: Rank the weight of the following sources - ANSWERSDecision from the Highest
Court of Appeals in New Jersey - Most Persuasive
Dissenting opinion from the Highest Court of Appeals in Indiana - Least Persuasive
Law Review Article Written by a Law Professor - Least Persuasive
Legal Newspaper Article - Least Persuasive
2024/2025
What are two sources of law in the American legal system? - ANSWERSenacted law and case law
discuss the purposes behind stare decisis - ANSWERS-it is the controlling doctrine governing judges'
ability to make law
-courts must follow precedent
-stare decisis promotes stability, reliability, predictability, consistency, and fairness in the application of
law
what are the three levels of courts that exist in the hierarchy of the federal court system? - ANSWERSU.S.
District Court (trial court)
Court of Appeals (intermediate appellate court)
U.S. Supreme Court
what are the three levels of courts that exist in the hierarchy of most state court system? - ANSWERStrial
court
intermediate court of appeals
state supreme court
how do courts determine what law binds them? - ANSWERSgeographically
subject matter
courts are bound by authority in the line of appeal
why must a lawyer consider a court's jurisdiction? - ANSWERSlawyers must be able to determine
whether a court can hear the case and whether the law is binding
, can a court amend or change language in a statute? why or why not? - ANSWERSno, this power is
reserved to the legislature
some courts do have the authority to declare statutes unconstitutional
explain three ways courts make law - ANSWERSadopting or creating a new legal doctrine
deciding cases that interpret existing legal doctrines
interpreting ambiguous or vague language in enacted law
A legislator has proposed a bill that prohibits physician-assisted suicide. If enacted into law, can a court
amend its language? - ANSWERSNo, the court cannot amend the language of a statute
Legislator introduces bill, bill is referred to committee, committee reviews, hearings & testimony,
committee report, full chamber reviews, debates, and votes on committee's version of the bill, sent to
president, if signed within 10 days, becomes law
if vetoed, goes back to legislature/overridden by 2/3 vote in each chamber
New Mexico Trial Court: What of the following cases are binding on that court? - ANSWERSDecisions
from the Last Court of Resort in Texas: Persuasive
Decisions from the Court of Law in New Mexico: Binding
Decisions from the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in New Mexico: Persuasive
Identify whether the following sources of law are considered primary or secondary authority. -
ANSWERSStatute: Primary
Case: Primary
Legal Newspaper Article: Secondary
Legal Encyclopedia: Secondary
North Dakota Trial Court: Rank the weight of the following sources - ANSWERSDecision from the Highest
Court of Appeals in New Jersey - Most Persuasive
Dissenting opinion from the Highest Court of Appeals in Indiana - Least Persuasive
Law Review Article Written by a Law Professor - Least Persuasive
Legal Newspaper Article - Least Persuasive
